The UK seeks to protect problem gamblers from themselves. Ladbrokes, Gala Coral and Paddy Power among others have taken measures in the UK gaming-crazed market to protect consumers from addiction issues.

Under the pressure of tax increases and increasing political scrutiny in light of new regulations, the betting companies have funded a new watchdog group to monitor compliance and further plan to cover their 8000 plus shopfronts with public service messages promoting responsible betting as part of an industry-wise campaign called “gamble aware week.”

Responding to this claim, a Campaign spokesperson said: “The RGT research, published today, includes the claim that a reduction of stake size will not decrease rates of gambling harm. There is of course no empirical evidence to support this conclusion as there has been no effort to impose a stake reduction and monitor the results, a limitation which the authors fail to identify.

Manchester City Council has thrown its weight behind a campaign to put restrictions on addictive roulette machines dubbed the ‘crack cocaine of gambling’.

The proposal to restrict fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) – which can take bets of up to £100 every 20 seconds – have been brought forward by Newham Council and are now being backed by a number of local authorities across the country.

Fixed odds betting terminals have cost gamblers in North Ayrshire £4m over the last 12 months.

Labour MP Brian Donohoe is stepping up his efforts to tackle the problem of gambling in North Ayrshire – after finding out that Glasgow gamblers bet £200 million a year on gaming machines.

Mr Donohoe joins SNP’s Kenneth Gibson who told the Herald last month the maximum stake on FOBTs – fixed odds betting terminals – should be slashed after we revealed gamblers in North Ayrshire bet a staggering £4 million on the machines in the last year.

Anonymous testimonial, February 2013 17:03:04 GMT

“Dear Adrian,
“I have seen and welcomed your stopthefobts website and campaign. I would like to tell you about my experiences with FOBT. I worked for Ladbrokes for 23 years, for 17 years I managed their busiest shop in Coventry in an economically challenged area.
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